diff --git a/file_entity.file_api.inc b/file_entity.file_api.inc
index cfe3454..c252de7 100644
--- a/file_entity.file_api.inc
+++ b/file_entity.file_api.inc
@@ -213,6 +213,9 @@ function file_build_content($file, $view_mode = 'full', $langcode = NULL) {
  *   An array as expected by drupal_render().
  */
 function file_view_file($file, $displays = 'full', $langcode = NULL) {
+  if (empty($file)) {
+    return array();
+  }
   if (!isset($langcode)) {
     $langcode = $GLOBALS['language_content']->language;
   }